Iffy at best

The most interesting part of my post last night is the way that I feel about it. At the bottom, that political part, I pretty much bared all of my thoughts and feelings about large scale politics. Now, this isn't that weird, I mean it's a blog. That's what you're supposed to do, right?

Well the longer I leave that post up, the more I think about tearing it down. Not because I've change my mind, or I don't feel that way, I just don't want people to think any differently about me.

The other day I was talking to my boss up in the International Studies Dept. here at the college and we were talking about issues facing international students. He was doing his typical political hand-wringing and so I tried presenting another side to him. He stopped, thought for a moment, then looked at me and then thanked me for being so open to both sides of every topic he and I discuss. (I've been having philosophical and political discussions with him since the beginning of summer.)

That would have just been a great compliment on its own, but he then went on to tell me that he knew that I was an extreme liberal, like him, and that it's always refreshing to have someone who can see both sides of an issue.

I took it as a compliment, but not the way he intended. He and I see eye to eye on nothing at all. I don't think he makes very valid arguments and he backs his ideas up with how he feels, not rational thought. Yes, there is something to be said for using feeling, but when dealing with things as abstract as politics and philosophy using one's feelings as justification for an argument leads to an inability to understand or sometimes even listen to the other side.

My boss still has no idea that I don't think like he does. I've seen the way he lashes out at conservatives and their ideals and I really don't feel like getting my ass kicked, or losing my job. A little extreme? You should listen to this guy rant.

So, my justification for leaving that post up on the blog, though I know most of the people who read it will disagree with me, is that this is pretty much the only place where I won't be shut down, dismissed, yelled at, or fired for spilling my guts.

There, it's out there. Mwahahahahahaha!

I gotta get to work. Hope y'all are having a good day!

ta ta

Monkeys and their worm spawn couldn't keep me away from this blog. Life, however, is a different story.

I just got the email from the people who run the counter at the bottom there and it said I'm getting an average of about 5 page views a day. I'm really sorry I haven't updated since November 1. Hopefully that'll change.

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Anyway, life here is back to normal. I borrowed a drumset from my friend Kari and so Tim and I have been playing together a little bit (Tim plays the trumpet.- ed.). Jamming is a LOT of fun and it really does relieve stress. Joseph came over last Thursday and played his base guitar with us and all three of us had a blast. Good Times.

Another thing I've been doing in my free time is playing video games. After having my x-box for about two months, I've finally gotten into playing Halo. I played my way through half of number one and then number two came out. Tim bought it on Friday and 10 hours later, he beat it. I played through it with him and I must say that after attempting to play the Final Fantasy games and getting horrifically bored before I was even halfway through but still enjoying the sheer amount of time they take to play, Halo was a dissappointment. And yes, I did just somehow compare Final Fantasy with Halo. I'm going to try and put the game on the hardest setting one of these days and see how I do. I do, of course, still have to beat the first one so we'll see how it all goes.

Work hasn't been going too well. One reason for the lack of updates recently was that my boss complained to some of my cohorts at work that I was spending too much time on the web when I first clocked on so I'm now very nervous about updating my blog, looking at my webcomics, etc. while I'm at work. Hopefully things'll change, but I'm not holding my breath. As far as teaching goes, it's a helluvalot of fun. My grammar class still makes me nervous, but that's because they keep asking, "why?" and I have no clue what to say besides what's in the book. I spend more time working for that class than they do. Between 'grading papers' and planning lessons, I put in a lot more time than I feel I should have to. But apparently that's part of teaching. Who knew?

I got an interesting job offer for next summer. One of my mom's friends is in Latvia right now on a Fullbright teaching scholarship. She goes to my mom's Russian Orthodox church and is very involved in the church community. One of the first things she did when she got there was make contact with the church. One thing that she found out was that the church has been trying to put together a scouting group. They have property where they want to build a camp, a meeting place, and a group of young people who want to use it.

So, my mom's friend put my name out there as a possible resource. And BAM! I get an email yesterday that is a job offer for next summer. I would essentially be a cultural attaché, working to set up the scouting program, helping them construct the camp, being the personal English tutor for the highest church dignitary in Latvia, getting free room and board, and earning about $600 a month. So between now and then I need to learn Russian and Latvian. Not completely, but enough to communicate. Funny how life works out sometimes. I'm just sad it's only for three months. After spending last year in France, anything less than 6 seems insanely short.

I'm still swing dancing as well.

The only thing that I'm not doing is drawing. I'm beginning to feel that pretty hard right now but I either don't have the time or the energy. I really should scan some of my drawings and put them up for people to look at. I'll see what I can do.

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Alright. I wasn't going to talk about the election for fear of getting my head bit off by many people. Let it suffice to say that the re-election of Bush shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Like it or not, we are still considered a nation at war and the U.S. has never taken a war time president out of office. There are a about 5 million other reasons for his re-election, including the fact that he got the most votes. And contrary to popular belief, people that voted for Bush are not stupid, they aren't KKK members, and they aren't biggots. Oh, and they're not all rich Christians. Simply because someone has different beliefs than you doesn't make them wrong or less intelligent. With people making these implications to my face every day, why would I open my mouth? I love political conversations more than most people but I've been summarily dismissed so many times in the last two weeks for being a conservative it's becoming incredibly insulting. And seriously, making the assumption that everyone in the group believes what you believe simply because they don't contradict you, doesn't mean they agree with you. Food for thought.

For those of you who think that Bush is hunting you down and going to kill you, here are some things that nobody seems to be pointing out:

1. 48% of the electorate voted for Kerry or the democratic party in general in the election. Yes, the Republicans took over congress and kept the presidency, but there is a HUGE Democratic undercurrent in almost every state that ALL of the politicians are very aware of. Being TOO Republican could make sure they don't get elected for another term. I doubt that anything too radical will happen.

2. Has anyone who's worried about Bush appointing judges been paying attention to the Arlen Spectre debacle? If not, I suggest you start reading the paper. Bush doesn't have all the support from his own party that everyone was affraid of. Remember, he needs congressional approval for each appointee.

3. After two years, Bush becomes a Lame Duck.

lame duck
n.

1. a.An elected officeholder or group continuing in office during the period between failure to win an election and the inauguration of a successor.
b.An officeholder who has chosen not to run for reelection or is ineligible for reelection.
2.An ineffective person; a weakling.

What does this mean politically? It means that after two years, congress will realize that if there is something they want passed or vetoed, all they need to do is wait and the next president will do something different. Foreign policy, domestic policy, everything will be put on hold for his second two years. This happens with every 2 term president.


So basically, the Dems just have to wait for two years, then push forward any candidate they think can win. Any candidate except for Hilary Clinton that is. Does ANYONE remember the debacle that was Hilary's health care package?! The idea of that woman holding any position in government scares me and to have her run for president would be political suicide for the Democrats. Yes, she's a woman. Duh. And if the Democrats could find ANYONE who was a little more moderate, they might even get me to cross party lines, but running a hard-liner like Hilary is a mistake. And anyone who thinks that she would be like her husband needs to listen to any of her congressional rants. Bill was a moderate with a Democratic edge. I thought he was a prick but not a bad politician. Hilary is not a moderate at all. If she runs and loses, it's not because she's a woman, it's because of her politics. America is ready to have a female president. We just need to be careful about who we choose. But that goes for both genders. And it all depends on which party you're in favor of. And remember, this is just my opinion.

We'll see what happens.

End of the world? I doubt it.

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So now that I've pissed EVERYONE I know off, I'm gone. Have a wonderful end to the weekend and I'll write more when I get a chance! Love ya! Oh, and if you want, please post a commment. You don't have to be a member of blogger.com to comment.

Yeah, as concerns that last post, I was completely wrong. Apologies all around. Everyone gets a promotion.

My boss is gone today. Whooo!

I've been getting all kinds of emails telling me not to vote for Bush (no Lucie, you're not the only one). And while I do appreciate the amazing flow of love, I have have to admit that I cannot side with Kerry. The problem then becomes not that I'm voting for Bush but that I'm NOT voting for Kerry. Now, some people would say, "Suck it up! Kerry's better than Bush!" And to that I respond, "That may be." I respond like this because Kerry's politics run almost completely counter to mine. I hold serious issue with him as a man and him as a politician. It's amazing how anti-Kerry I actually am. So at this point, it's almost better that I not vote at all because at least then I wouldn't be helping either side.

Too bad I'm not going to do that. And oh yeah...we have third parities up the yin-yang! Hmmmm...

Anyway, I'm at work right now, takin' names and kickin' ass. I finally figured out how to text on my phone so I'm playing with that right now. I'm not sure if I'm actually sending anything but hopefully someone will respond.

It's hilarious. There's this girl who goes to school here at the college where I teach who I made friends with through Ahniwa. Now there is nothing, couldn't be anything, and won't be anything happening between us. We're just good friends. But the rumors around the school are aparently spreading. We hang out together a lot and then go drinking every so often. We have lunch sometimes and spend breaks together bitching about the school. What we're not doing, is having sex. The funny thing is, everyone else seems to think we are. Sex-starved gossip-mongers. Wow.

That's about all there is to report. I'm working pretty hardcore on just surviving right now and thinking constantly about the holidays. Should be interesting.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME! I cannot wait until they put up the lights downtown and then there's this one weekend, I think it's the first sunday after Thanksgiving where all the stores are open and they have cider and cookies for everyone while people peruse their wares. It's spectacular and I really wish I could share it with you all!

Well, BELATED HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I hope you all had a good one. I spent mine watching Dawn of the Dead and fighting off an upset stomache. Fun stuff, let me tell you.

So yeah, if I have time tomorrow, I'll post again. Catch y'all later.

Clunk.